Perils of Margene (Part III)

Our heroine had been floating along on DeNile enjoying the day and listening to Sprössling's lovely call from farther up the river. Paddling was easy, the waters calm, the landscape serene. 

Margene decided it is time to start the second front (right left front) and she picked up her yarn, but couldn't find the right needle in her bag . At that moment, she came to the realization the first/right front HAD been knit on the wrong size needle!  The water moved along more quickly and seemed to grow a little rougher.

Finally, with the right size needle she was able to start the first few rows of the left front. The going was quite easy (it's hard to overcome DeNile). However, when Margene started the pattern, she had to look at the chart.  The river was now very bumpy and the sound of rushing water could be heard (rapids?!).  Margene realized she may be lost and, to make things worse, she was completely confused.

 

Did she start the right front from the right chart or the left (wrong) chart?  Was she right in starting the left front from the right (wrong?) chart or was it the left chart?  Is the chart correct, does she have the right chart for the river?  Is she right, wrong, left , up or down?? YIKES!  Round and round she went, caught up in the eddy of doubt!

Margene looked at the finished right/left front to see if the map of fabric could clear up her questions.  The (right...or is it left!?) front left her with even more questions. Had she started the waist shaping on the right side or the left side?  Is the shaping right or wrong? Is it left or wrong?  Is she up or is she down?  The river's speed grew, the eddy swirled and swirled, spinning her round and round!!  Beyond the eddy the water plugging out of view, and the roar of an enormous waterfall thundered in her ears!  Was she doomed? Was there a way to make it around the eddy and to the shore?  Will Margene plunge into the land of non-knitters?  What in the world is going on!? How will she be saved!?

Margene paddled and paddled, trying to keep her muscles strong, her mind on survival, and hoped with all her heart she could get through this horror.  From a distance she could hear her dear friend CherylS calling in an encouraging voice.  "Remember when I knit two backs for an intricate lace sweater?  Remember when I started a sweater at the V neck and had to take it out after 11 rows? Remember when...?", on and on she called.

Cheryl calls also reminded Margene she was not the only person to make multiple errors in her knitting.  She was not the only person who had confused charts and patterns, and was not the only person to knit the wrong (right/left) front of a sweater. Cheryl also reminded Margene that she had the wherewithal and strength to pull through the eddy and make it to shore. Other friends could be heard shouting their encouragement, too. "We know you can do it! You have the attitude needed to finish (and tame) Sprössling! You can make it to shore!"

The eddy was strong, but Margene worked with all her might.  She focused on friendship and how many nice sweaters she had knit in the past. Love of the process pulled her to shore like a magical rope and the path she needed to take unfolded before her.

Sprössling's chart became clear. She understood the pattern and the RIGHT front as it should be.  With the right size needle in hand, the right path opened and Margene was finally in her right mind.

Comments

[Anna]

My goodness what an exciting adventure!!! I do love excitment and a happy ending!! YAY Margene!!!

[Marijke]

Phew! All's well that ends well.

[Jane]

I'm exhausted! Glad you're on the right track again!

[Carole]

But is the other front piece wrong? Does it need to be reknit?

[Kym]

Sounds like you took a roundabout way to Sprossling . . . but you'll arrive at your destination just the same! So glad you're set to . . . Rights! :-)

[Gale]

You are so not alone in this. Recently I knitted a whole man-sized sleeve in the wrong size. It was painful.

[CindyCindy]

Yay!!!! I am so glad. It's such a pretty sweater and I love your yarn. Thank goodness for Cheryl, a great friend and a wonderful cheerleader;-P

[Anne]

Whew - YAY! Back on track. That's a great feeling. :)

[Debbie]

Whew! I'm relieved for you. What you wrote sounds like me working on some of my knitting!

[Chery]

What a corkscrew of a river, that DeNile!! Hope you have smooth paddling from now on.

[AmyP]

Phew! Here's hoping it's plain sailing (yes, I went there) from here on in!

[Chris]

Whew!!! I hope there aren't more perils ahead...

[Marilyn]

Yay!

Wonderful story BTW!

[jill]

Wishing you a safe journey.

[Cheryl S.]

I'm afraid that the older we get, the less we will be in our "right" minds. But patience and perseverance will save the day! It's only knitting. It can be redone.

Got notified by SLCo Library this morning that "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" is finally available for me to download - good timing!

[Vicki]

Whew!

[Manise]

That was a painful realization I'm sure, but glad it worked out in the end. It would have been far worse had you not bailed and swam to shore and been sucked down Victoria Falls in your little boat. Oh, and you've always been in your right mind Margene!

[Lynn Winders]

Margene, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry when I read your post. I am really new to knitting (started in January) and thought I was the only one that felt like this at times. I am trying to do simple fingerless gloves for my son that I'm sure have been frogged and re-started 453 times at least. Congrats on not giving up!!

[Melissa G]

You have my wishes for clear sailing ahead!

[Knitnana]

YAY!!! I knew you could do it all along. You're the one who taught all of us - it IS the process! *wink*
But what a great read!
(and Sprossling is so pretty...)
(((hugs)))

[Doris]

I am glad that you are back on track. Loved the way you told us what was going on...great story!

[travelita]

Hi Margene,
Great story. Reminds me that I still haven't frogged my mis-matched "Slouch Socks" (pattern name). Upon finishing, I figured out I was knitting with nine 2mm/US#0 needles and one US#1. Tough being teased by all that gorgeous Cherry Tree Hill Champagne yarn.

[jennifer]

holy crap, margene!
I almost had a panic attack over that!

[Cookie]

Thank goodness!

[Helen]

OMG! I want to knit this sweater but if it is giving you fits, I think I will put this one off for now.